Month: December 2012

After 24 hours of conflicting reports, Cal confirmed Wednesday morning that offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Jim Michalczik has been let go. That means none of the five holdover assistant coaches remains with the program.

We first reported on Tuesday that wide receivers coach Wes Chandler said all five assistants were out. Cal then said Michalczik still was part of the staff, creating confusion and prompting a series of back-and-forth internet reports.

Turns out our initial report was correct and that for technical reasons Michalczik’s termination was not finalized at the same time as the others.

New coach Sonny Dykes announced on Tuesday the hiring of two of his former Louisiana Tech aides — offensive coordinator Tony Franklin and assistant head coach/wide receivers Rob Likens.

Cal coach Mike Montgomery on Tuesday said there is no timetable for the return of sophomore guard Ricky Kreklow, who has played in just two games this season because of a foot injury.

“He’s not making much progress. It’s very discouraging . . . the kid’s very discouraged,” Montgomery said. “It’s just progressing slowly.”

Kreklow, projected before the season as a likely starter, has missed the past five games since feeling a twinge in his surgically repaired right foot. A week ago, Montgomery said the injury is not structural, but likely a tendon or muscle issue.

Jason Kidd, 39, who was drafted into the NBA when current Cal freshman Tyrone Wallace was 11 days old, still can rise up in the big moments.

Kidd made a tie-breaking 3-pointer with 24 seconds left and the New York Knicks beat the Brooklyn Nets, 100-97, at the new Barclay Center. Kidd finished with 18 points, six rebounds and six assists in 38 minutes against his old team.

Kidd pumped a fist afterward, commenting, “I’m a competitor. I want to win.”

Gone from the previous staff are running backs coach Gould, an assistant at Cal for 16 years, along with Chandler (wide receivers), Ashley Ambrose (defensive backs) and Marcus Arroyo (passing game coordinator/quarterbacks).

Franklin’s addition to the staff was no surprise. He worked all three seasons at Louisiana Tech with Dykes, running the offense and calling plays. The Bulldogs were 9-3 this fall and led the nation in scoring.

“Tony Franklin is an innovative and creative mind who is one of the top offensive coaches in the nation,” Dykes said in a statement. “He’s had a tremendous amount of success producing some of the most prolific offenses in college football.”

“I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to come to the No. 1 academic institution in the country and try to also make it the No. 1 football program in the country. That’s our goal,” Franklin said. “To be able to do that with Sonny is kind of like a fantasy that started years ago.”

Franklin, 56, was a 2012 nominee for the Broyles Award given annually to the nation’s top assistant coach and one of four finalists for the FootballScoop.com Offensive Coordinator of the Year.

“I have known Rob Likens and admired his coaching abilities for a long time,” Dykes said. “When I had the opportunity to hire him three years ago at Louisiana Tech I jumped at the chance, and he was everything that I believed he would be and more.”

Dykes will has much of his staff to assemble, including the entire defensive side.

UPDATE: Tony Franklin has been hired as offensive coordinator and Rob Likens joins the staff as assistant head coach/wide receivers coach. Both following Sonny Dykes from La Tech. Will have more later.

CORRECTION: New Cal football coach Sonny Dykes will retain Jim Michalczik as offensive line coach, but has fired the other four holdover assistant coaches.

Wide receivers coach Wes Chandler told me earlier today that all five assistants were gone. A Cal spokesperson said that is not correct.

“We’re out,” Chandler told me in a phone interview Tuesday morning.

Chandler said he met with Dykes on Monday, but got no answer about his future. Later in the day, he said Solly Fulp, chief operating officer for Cal athletics, called to say he would not be back.

Cal kept five assistants on the payroll after head coach Jeff Tedford was fired Nov. 20.

FINAL SCORE: UNLV 76, Cal 75. Quintrell Thomas’ putback off an airball by teammate Anthony Marshall with 1.2 seconds left provided the No. 21 Runnin’ Rebels (7-1) the final margin over the Bears (6-2). But Cal lost this game by allowing 13 offensive rebounds, turning the ball over 13 times, and missing 13 (of 28) free throws. Allen Crabbe led Cal with 18 points, and career-highs for Richard Solomon (14) and freshman Tyrone Wallace (13). Anthony Bennett, a freshman who may never become a sophomore, led UNLV with a career-high 25 points and 13 rebounds. Guard Bryce Dejean-Jones scored 22, 12 in the second half.

1:36 2nd H: Freshman Wallace has scored Cal’s past four points and has a career-high 13. But UNLV freshman Bennett just made two FTs — he has 21 points — and the score is tied 70-all.

3:41 2nd H: Wallace draws an offensive foul by UNLV’s Savon Goodman and Cal has the ball, trailing 68-66. Bryce Dejean-Jones, who had scored 12 points since 10:26 left, now on the bench with his fourth foul, an intentional against Justin Cobbs.

The roots of the coaching tree that spawned new Cal football coach Sonny Dykes reach down to Darrell Royal and LaVell Edwards. But his approach to the game was shaped more directly by less traditional influences.

Perhaps none was more profound than the time he spent with Hal Mumme at Kentucky.

ETC: Allen Crabbe ranks fifth on Cal’s career list with 161 3-point baskets. Next up: Patrick Christopher with 164. … Crabbe’s 25-point performance last Sunday at Wisconsin was his fifth 20-point performance of the season, the 18th of his career. … Sophomore G Ricky Kreklow (foot) practiced on a limited basis this week and is listed as doubtful to play. … Cal had 23 turnovers in its 81-56 loss at Wisconsin last Sunday.